There are two non-profit organizations in Coweta and Fayette counties south of Atlanta, whose primary mission is to save the lives of children — more specifically, babies. In Fayette County, the organization is the Fayette Pregnancy Resource Center.

On Wednesday morning, the area was under a winter storm watch. All area school and colleges were closed, motorists were being advised to stay home and truckers were warned that they may be denied access to the interstate highways in Georgia.

The idea of “world recognition” is usually seen as a good thing. The Super Bowl winners are proclaimed as “World Champions” as is the winner of the World Series (although it really is only a North American Series, baseball being played in quite a few other nations).

The New England Patriots, soon to take the field against the Seattle Seahawks in the 49th edition of the Super Bowl, has, for the last several days, been the subject of a potential scandal known in the media as “Deflate-Gate.”

The civilized world is aghast at the violence visited upon the French cartoonists and journalists who were murdered by Islamic Jihadists. The French publication, Charlie Hebdo, is well known for taking satirical swipes at almost everybody.

I celebrated another birthday this past week. I suppose that normally would be nothing to think very much about, but I recently learned that over 10 percent of my high school graduating class has passed from the scene.

Today, the percentage of military veterans in the United States Congress is at its lowest rate since World War II. According to a report by CNN, only 20 percent of the 535 members of the new Congress have served in the military, 25 from the Senate and 90 from the House of Representatives.

It is the season for traditions. When I was a child, everyone on my mother’s side of the family gathered for a Christmas Eve dinner at the home of my mother’s parents. My mom had two sisters and, all together, they produced six grandchildren.

Finally, I finished all my Christmas cards! This year I sent out about 250 cards to members of my family, my church family, clergy in the diocese, and several military chaplains — oh, and several friends and other clergy colleagues.